virulent
12 synonyms and 1 antonym for virulent, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Extremely infectious or harmful, said of a disease or pathogen.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
avirulent
How to use virulent
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a virulent strain
virulent criticism
virulent hatred
Etymology
From Latin virulentus, "full of poison," from virus ("poison").
Full origin of virulent →Frequently asked questions
What does “virulent” mean?
The word “virulent” means extremely infectious or harmful, said of a disease or pathogen. In plain terms, either extremely dangerous or infectious (a disease), or extremely hostile and bitter (an attack or criticism).
How do you pronounce “virulent”?
“Virulent” is pronounced VIH-ruulnt (/ˈvɪɹ(j)ələnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “virulent” in a sentence?
Here is “virulent” used in a sentence: “A particularly virulent strain of the flu swept through the school.”
What part of speech is “virulent”?
“Virulent” is an adjective.
Where does the word “virulent” come from?
The word “virulent” comes from Latin. From Latin virulentus, "full of poison," from virus ("poison").
How many meanings does “virulent” have?
“Virulent” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: extremely infectious or harmful, said of a disease or pathogen.
